Over the next five years, transfer centers in regional areas will be doubled, and hub transfer centers for each metropolitan corridor in the greater Seoul area will be established to secure up to a 50% return rate for intercity buses.

Transfer convenience will be enhanced by shortening transfer distances at major railway transfer hubs nationwide by more than 30%.

The Metropolitan Transport Committee (MTC) under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced today (the 30th) the 4th Basic Plan for the Establishment of Transfer Centers and Complex Transfer Centers (2026–2030) featuring these core measures.

The latest plan sets three main goals under the vision of "Future Win-Win Transfer Centers at the Center of Mobility and Balanced Growth."

First, transfer centers in regional areas will be doubled compared to previous plans to guarantee mobility rights between the greater Seoul area and regional regions and to support balanced regional growth.

Accordingly, transfer center projects will increase from 15 to 30, and the scale of government subsidies will rise from 17.3 billion won to 44.7 billion won, respectively.

In addition, to improve the commuting efficiency of intercity buses flowing into downtown Seoul and Gangnam, eight hub transfer centers will be established across nine metropolitan transportation corridors, raising the intercity bus return rate from 37.1% last year to 52.4% by 2030.

Furthermore, the plan aims to enhance transfer convenience by shortening transfer distances and times at 20 major high-speed and metropolitan railway stations nationwide by more than 30%.

The MTC plans to build 65 transfer and complex transfer centers nationwide by 2030, involving a total project cost of 22.7533 trillion won and government subsidies of 137 billion won.

Among them, a total of 30 locations are included in regional areas, comprising 14 in the Busan-Ulsan and Daegu areas, 10 in the Daejeon area, and 6 in the Jeonju and Gwangju areas.

The scale of government support for new projects has also been expanded compared to the 3rd basic plan.

In the greater Seoul area, transfer centers will be promoted at a total of 35 locations, including Yangjae Station and Sadang Station.

To create efficient transfer hubs in response to the increased use of intercity buses utilizing expressways, demand-tailored expressway transfer center types—such as bus stop types, rest area types, and terminal types—will also be introduced.

Along with this, technology development will continue to realize future-type transfer centers (tentatively named "AX Mobility Hub").

The committee will establish a model to support fast and safe transfers within transfer centers by developing and utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced technologies, such as real-time station congestion prediction and detection, walk-through payment, and customized route guidance, while also promoting pilot projects.

As mid-to-long-term policy tasks for the next five years, the committee plans to strengthen financial support to vitalize transfer center projects, expand the scope of transfer convenience reviews, and ease regulations to improve the profitability of complex transfer center projects.

This basic plan was finalized through deliberations by the National Transport Committee after consultations with relevant ministries.

MTC Chairperson Kim Yong-seok said, "We will practically resolve the inconveniences of transfers that citizens experience in their daily lives, building a 'win-win transportation transfer system' that provides growth engines for regional areas and travel efficiency for the greater Seoul area." He added, "Through future-type transfer centers, we will strive to ensure that people can experience faster and more convenient transportation transfer services anywhere in the country."

(Photo: Yonhap News)